Fluid transmission connection



Aug. 29, 1950 T. J. SMULSKI 2,520,896

FLUID TRANSMISSION CONNECTION Original Filed June 25, 1943 INVENTOR.

THEODORE J. SMULSK/ ATTORNEY Patented Aug 29, 1950 FLUID TRANSMISSION CONNECTION Theodore J. Smulslri, Gary, Ind., assignor to Productive Inventions, Inc., a corporation of Indiana Original application June 25, 1943, Serial No.

Divided and this application November'19, 1945, Serial No. 629,651

4 Claims. (Cl. 285-911) This invention relates to windshield wiper cleaners of the type which supply a cleaning fluid to thewindshield, and more particularly to a fluid-tight joint between two fluid conduits which are movable relative to each other.

Heretofore numerous windshield wiper cleaners have been devised forapplying a cleaning fluid to clean, defrost, or deice a windshield of land or marine automotive craft. More recently cleaners of this type have been designed for use on aircraft, and the structure of such cleaners differsfrom previous windshield wiper cleaners because of various factors which now must be considered in designing such cleaners.

In aircraft windshield wiper cleaners, the wiper arm speed of operation is usually three to four times the maximum speed employed in wiping Windshields of earthbound craft. This high speed of operation together with the high velocity of the aircraft has resulted in a wiper design whereby the cleaning fluid is transmitted through a fluid conduit which is a part of the wiper arm to a wiper blade provided with fluid conduits so that the fluid is supplied adjacent the wiping element of the wiper blade whereby the fluid is greater that that encountered in other vehicle wiper cleaners. In view of the necessity to overcome th'e wind resistance encountered by the velocity of the airplane, the high speed of operation of the wiper, and the great wiper arm pressure, the aircraft windshield wiper actuating mechanism necessarily is of much greater power than that heretofore used on "other craft. In view of this, it is undesirable to complicate any part of the windshield wiper motor or the windshield wiper actuating mechanism by causing defrosting fluid to be conducted to the arm and blade by" means of a hollow windshield wiper shaft.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a windshield wiper for use on aircraft which supplies cleaning fluid adjacent the wiping element of the windshield wiper blade, and which does not complicate or change in any substantial manner the present construction of windshield wiper motors or actuating mechanisms. This is accomplished by providing between two cleaning fluid conduits a fluid-tight joint so that there may be relative movement between the two conduits, one of which is usually connected to the cleaning fluid source of supply or reservoir, and the other of which is connected to the windshield wiper arm and blade.

It is an object of my invention to provide a windshield wiper cleaner for aircraft which will supplyfluid to the surface to be wiped without requiring any modifications of present windshield wiper motors or actuating mechanisms.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved windshield wiper cleaner which will permit relative rotational movement between two cleaning fluid conduits.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved fluid-tight connection in a windshield wiper cleaner arm and blade assembly which will permit a certain amount of variation in the alignment of one fluid conduit with another fluid conduit, particularly where the fluid conduits are movable with respect to each other.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved windshield wiper cleaner wherein in addition to relative rotational movement between two fluid conduits there will be permitted a certain amount of gyrational movement between the two conduits.

Still another object of my invention is to provide in a windshield wiper cleaner a fluid-tight connection between two fluid conduits which are movable relative to each other so as to facilitate the installation of a wiper cleaner blade and 'arm assembly.

Other and further objects of my invention subsequently will become apparent.

In the drawing which forms a part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a view in front, sectional elevation fllustrating a windshield wiper cleaner arm and a fluid-tight joint embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary'vlew in side elevation, partly in section, of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, detail crosssectional view of the fluid-tight joint shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4' is an enlargedfragmentary, detail, crosssectional view of another embodiment of my invention in fluid-tight joints. I

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 492,253, filed June 25, 1943.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 0f the drawing, there is shown a windshield wiper arm having an inner section 5 and an outer section 6 mounted thereon in pivotal relation thereto. The outer'section 6 is spring biased about the inner section 5 by suitable spring means which preferably are capable of being adjusted by means actuated through a screw 1 so as to determine the degree of pressure to be applied by the free end of the wiper arm on a windshield assasee wiper blade. While any one or a number oi structures may be utilized to accomplish this regulation of the pressure of the wiper arm, a suitwhich may be set in a blade-receiving condition i by operation of flnger grips 8. A suitable blade engaging mechanism adapted to cooperate with a windshield wiper cleaner blade is shown and claimed in my copending patent application Serial No. 492,252, flled June 25, 1943, now Patent No. 2,432,690, for Windshield Wiper Arm and Blade Connectors. Since the details of such mechanism do not necessarily form a part of the present invention, reference may be made to that application for the details of construction. In order to show the relation of the present invention to apparatus of that type, the apparatus will be briefly described.

A windshield cleaner wiper blade which may be of any of the types suitable for this purpose is provided with a' connector stem including a connector member 9 having trunnions. The connector member 9 is engaged by the mechanism controlled by the finger grips 8 of the wiper arm section 6. Features of the illustrative wiper blade 3 are disclosed and claimed in my Patent No.

' 2,348,502, dated May 9, 1944.

This type of wiper blade Hi has a frame il provided on each side with a fluid passage 12. Each fluid passage i2 has spaced apertures 13 positioned adjacent the flexible wiping element ll so that cleaning fluid will be applied to the windshield adjacent the wiping element and will be spread properly across the surface of the windshield without waste. Each longitudinal fluid channel [2 of the wiper blade frame ,II is connected to a fluid passage 15 extending through the stem of which connector 8 forms a part. In application Serial No. 492,252, the connector -member 8 is rotatively mounted relative to the wiper blade so that, through suitable movement modifying means, the wiper blade can be turned to a limited extent relative to the wiper arm. In the present instance no movement modifying means is provided, and hence provision is made to fix the member 9 against rotative movement relative to the wiper blade. against rotation, has a forwardly turned lip engaged with a flat face of the member 8 to prevent the rotation of the latter.

The fluid passage l5, when the wiper blade is connected to the wiper arm, is in communication with a fluid conduit l6 mounted on the outer arm section 6. The conduit i8 is provided with a suitable terminal portion 11 to provide a fluidtight joint between the conduit l8 and the'fluid passage H5. The fluid conduit terminal portion I1 is retained in position adjacent the free end of the arm section 6 by a spring clip 18 secured to the end of the arm by suitable fastening means,

A plate sa, flxed,

with the windshield, there is little movement of the fluid conduit i8 with respect to the fluid con duit 2 i and hence a relatively simple type of joint may be employed. It comprises a metallic ball member 221: which forms a terminal member of conduit 2 i and a rubber socket member 22b which is seated in an enlarged terminal portion 220 of conduit i8. Members 22a and 2% are formed with suitable communicating bores. The fluid conduit 2! is supported from the inner arm section by a suitable bracket 24 which is attached to the arm section 5 by fastening means,-such as a screw 25. The conduit 2| is desirably aflixed to an ear of the bracket 24 which is resilient.

The inner end of conduit 21 has afilxed to it a nipple 21a which is formed with a beveled seat 21b. The nipple 21a. flts removably into a socket 2 ie which is formed in the hub portion 28 of inner wiper arm section 5. The nipple bears at its inner end against a suitable sealing gasket 2 id which is lodged in the socket 2ic, and which is formed with a beveled seat 2ie, complementary to seat 2lb.

In case of "stoppage or of damage to parts calling for service or replacement, the conduits i8 and 2!, together with the appurtenant parts, may be readily removed by withdrawing screw 25 and shifting the bracket 24 away from arm section 5. Either the conduit it with its appurtenant parts or the conduit 21 with its appurtenant parts may then be repaired or discarded and replaced by a like replacement unit, the parts being then reassembled and secured in place by the screw. 25.

In accordance with the invention as more particularly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the inner end of ,the fluid conduit 21 is connected to communicate with a fluid passage 26 which is formed within that portion of the inner arm section 5 adjacent an actuating shaft 21 of a windshield wiper motor or actuating mechanism. An inner collar portion 28 of the inner arm section 8 is provided with a suitable surface for engagement with a portion of the actuating shaft 2-1 which may be provided with serrations 28.

The collar portion 28 has a drivingflt with the Y end of shaft 21. The lower end of the collar portion 28 is formed with a beveled shoulder for fltting against a complementary beveled-shoulder 21d. of shaft 21. y

The wiper shaft 21, just forwardly beyond the corrugated portion 28, is provided with a threaded stud portion 3|. The stud 3i of the wiper shaft is engaged by a nut member 32 having a depending portion reduced in size and extending part ,wayinto an enlarged bore of the collar 28. The fluid passage 26 is defined and bounded by the wall of said bore, the stud 31, a rear face of the nut 32,and a forwardly facing shoulder of shaft 21 which surrounds the base of stud 3I.- A gasket 33 is interposed between the surfaces of the amt portion 28 and the nut 32 and is clamped 'flrmly by the threading of nut 32 onto stud 3| ,to provide a fluid-tight joint. The nut member 32 is provided with a fluid passage 34 which is in communication with the fluid passage 26 of the arm portion 28. i 3

The nut member 32 extends upwardly in the 'form of a reduced hollow end portion 35, such portion being formed with an external thread which is engaged by a collar nut 36. The fluid passage 84 of the nut 32 is separated from the bore formed in the threaded end portion 35 by an apertured plate or washer 31 which seats against a shoulder at the inner or rear end of said bore. The washer 76 81, in turn, supports a flexible resilient tubular sleeve 38, desirably. of

rubber, in whose outer end a, parti-s'pherical seat is formed.

A fluid conduit 38 is connected to a suitable source of cleaning fluid, desirably under a moderate pressure. between the fluid conduit 38 and the fluid passage 34 by two members 4| and 42, the member 4| being afllxed to the fluid conduit ",and the member 42 being supported on the resilient sleeve 88. The member 42 and the rear end portion of the member 4| Jointly deflne a sphere segment. The member 42 is of suitable bearing metal and rotatively engages the bearing member 4| to form a liquid-tight Joint. The members 4| and 42 are provided with connecting fluid passages 44 and A fluid-tight Joint is provided 45 respectively. A self-lubricating bearing 46 I is held between the collar of nut" and the fluid joint member 4| so that the nut 86, together with the other elements of ,the fluid joint assembly carried by the shaft 21 may oscillate with respect to the member 4|.

The fluid joint members 4| and 42, as previously noted, have an outer parti-spherical configuration, so that the members 42 and '38. have capacity for limited universal rockingmovement relative to one another, the rocking being accommodated, however, by deformation of the sleeve 38. This movement between the fluid pa'ssage 39 and the other fluid passages will occur if there is any misalignment of the axis of the fluid conduit 39 with respect to the axis of the wiper shaft 21, and it may also occur during operation of the vehicle in response to vibration and other strains.

While the operation of the invention is thought to be evident from the foregoing description, a brief rsum of the operation will be given. The fluid conduit 39 is connected to a suitable reservoir or source of cleaning or deicing fluid. The cleaning fluid passes through the conduit 36 into the passage 44 of the member 4|, through the passage 45 of the member 42, through the passages in the-resilient gasket 38 and the sup* porting plate or washer 31, through the fluid passage 34 of the nut portion 32, and through the fluid passage 26 of the arm portion 28 to the conduit 2| adjacent the arm section 5. Fluid continues on from the fluid conduit 2| through the fluid conduit IE to the fluid conduit l5 of the a blade connector 9 and to the longitudinal fluid passages |2 of the wiper blade frame to the apertures l3 and on to the surface of the windshield adjacent the wiping .element H of the wiper blade "I.

The windshield wiper arm is moved through an arcuate path by the wiper actuating shaft 21 so that between the stationary bearing member 4| and the rotary member 42 there is relative oscillatory movement. The member 42 is resiliently pressed against the member 4| by the sleeve 38 at all times.

Reference may now be had to Fig. 4 wherein there is disclosed another embodiment of my invention which differs from the arrangement shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In this arrangement the inner wiper arm does not have a mud passage in that portion by which the arm section is secured to the wiper shaft. The inner arm section is provided with a fluid conduit 2|a which extends adjacent the inner arm section in a manner similar to the fluid conduit 2| in Figs. 1 and 2. The inner arm section is secured to the arm engaging portion of a wiper shaft in a manner similar to that shown and described in and in connection with Figs. 2 and 3, but is further retained in position by a nut portion 48 which engages the threaded stud portion of the actuating shaft.

The fluid conduit 2|a is connected to an annular member or ring 48 which surrounds a reduced tubular portion 5| of the nut portion 48. The reduced portion 5| of the nut member 48 may be provided with a circumferentially extending groove or recess so that a fluid passage cated in seats at opposite sides of the annularmember 49 are firmly clamped by the nuts 43 and 51 to seal the fluid passage 52 and to secure the annular member 46 in place.

A flexible resilient supporting sleeve 58, desirably of rubber, is positioned in the tubular portion 5| to support a fluid joint member 58 which cooperates with another fluid Joint member 6|. The fluid Joint member 6| is secured to a fluid conduit 39a which is adapted to be connected to a supply reservoir or source of cleaning or deicing'fluid. A portion of the fluid joint member 6| is surrounded .by a self-lubricating bearing 63 having a shoulder portion engaged by the inner shoulder portion of the collar nut 51 so as to retain the joint member 6| in proper operative relation to the-Joint member 58. The fluid Joint members 59 and GI, which have a fluid passage 62 through them, are provided with complementary conical bearing surfaces 60 therebetween.

When the wiper arm is actuated the fluid conduit 38a and the Joint member 5| attached thereto remain relatively stationary and the remaining parts shown in Fig. 4 oscillate with respect to these stationary parts. If the axis of the fluid conduit 39a is in alignment with the axis of the nut member 48 the relative movement therebetween will be a simple oscillatory movement. In the event that there is a slight misalignment between the axis of the fluid conduit 38a and the axis of the nut member 48, an additional component will be introduced so as to produce a motion which maybe termed to be a relative gyrational movement. This movement is permitted by the flexure or deformation of the resilient flexible mounting gasket 58. A fluid-tight joint is assured between the conical bearing surfaces 68 of the two joint members 58 and 6|, the sleeve 58 serving resiliently to press and maintain the member 59 against the member 3|.

While I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention, I do not wish, however, to be confined thereto, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a windshield cleaning apparatus, a fluidtight connection between a relatively stationary fluid conduit and a fluid conduit moved by a windshield wiper actuating shaft, comprising, in combination, a hollow member containing a fluid conduit, said hollow member being adapted to be rigidly attached to a wiper shaft and having an end portion, an annular member of resilient deformable material supported within said hollow member, a relatively stationary fluid conduit provided at one end with a fluid conducting asaaeoc memberhavingabearingsurfaceofvaryingcib' cular cross-section, said latter member being positioned within said hollow member, a second fluid conducting member having a surface complementary to the aforesaid bearing surface and in contact therewith, one of said fluid conducting members having a reduced tubular portion adjacent the bearing surface thereof extending into the fluid passage of the other of said fluid conducting members, said members when in cooperative position having an outer parti-spherical surface, said second fluid'conducting member being supported by the parti-spherical surface thereof on said annular member, and a fitting cooperating with the end portion of said hollow.

member and surrounding said stationary fluid conduit to maintain said fluid conducting members in fluid-tight relation to each other.

2. In a windshield wiper cleaning apparatus, a fluid-tight connection between a relatively stationary fluid conduit and a fluid conduit moved by a' windshield wiper actuating shaft comprising, in combination, a hollow member having a fluid conduit and an end portion, said hollow member being adapted to be rigidly attached to a wiper shaft, a resilient annular member of resilient, deformable material supported within 7 said hollow member, a relatively stationary fluid conduit provided at one end with a fluid conducting member having a bearing surface of vary-. ing circular cross-section, said latter member being positioned within said hollow member, a

second fluid conducting member having a sur- .face complementary to the aforesaid bearing surface and in contact therewith, said second.

fluid conducting member having a tubular portion extending into the opening of said resilient annular member and being supported thereby, a fitting cooperating with endportion of said hollow member and surrounding said stationary fluid' conduit and the fluid conducting member thereof, and a bearing positioned between'thefltting and said first mentioned fluid conducting member whereby said fitting operates to maintain said fluid conducting members in fluid-tight relation to each other.

3. In a windshield cleaning apparatus, a fluidtight connection between a relatively stationary fluid conduit and a fluid conduit moved by a l windshield wiper actuating shaft, comprising, in

combination, a hollow member containing a fluid conduit, said hollow member'being adapted to be rigidly attached to a wiper shaft and having an end portion, an annular member of resilient deformable material supported within said hollow 65 member, a relatively stationary fluid conduit provided at one end with a fluid conducting member having a bearing surface of varying circular cross-section, said latter member being positioned within said hollow member; a second fluid conducting member having a surface complementary to the aforesaid bearing surface and in contact therewith, one of said fluid conducting members having a reduced tubular portion adjacentthe bearing surface thereof extending into the fluid passage of the other of said fluid conducting members, said member when in cooperative position having an outer parti-spherical surface, said second fluid conducting member being supported by the parti-spherical surface thereof on said annular member, and a fitting cooperating with the end portion of said hollow member and surrounding said stationary fluid conduit to maintain said fluid conducting members in fluidtight relation to each other.

. 4. In a windshield wiper cleaning apparatus, a fluid-tight connection between a relatively sta-.

tionary fluid conduit and a fluid conduit moved by a windshield wiper actuating shaft comprising, in combination, a hollowmember having a fluid conduit and an end portion, said hollow member being adapted to be rigidly attached to a wiper shaft, a resilient annular member of resilient, deformable material supported within said hollow member, a relatively stationary fluid,

conduit provided at one end with a fluid conducting member having a bearing surface of varying circular cross-section, said latter member being positioned within said hollow member, a second fluid conducting member having a surface complementary to the aforesaid bearing surface and in contact therewith, said second fluid conducting member having a tubular portion extending into the "openingof said resilient annular member and being supported thereby, a fitting cooperating with the end portion of said hollow member and surrounding said stationary fluid conduit and the fluid conducting member thereof, and a bearing positioned between the fitting and said first mentioned fluid conducting member whereby said fltting operates to maintain said fluid conducting members in fluidv tight relation to each other.

THEODORE J. SMULSKI. I

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Apr. 16, 1936 

